Dear Alice | Remodel Masterclass: House of Flora
Release Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: Jessica Bennett (Jess), Suzanne Hall (Sue), Corey
Theme: Lessons in thoughtful, luxurious remodeling for empty-nester clients, with a detailed walk-through of Alice Lane’s “House of Flora” project.
Episode Overview
This episode continues the “Remodel Masterclass” series, focusing on the House of Flora, a Utah home redesigned for a client entering the empty-nester phase. The hosts walk through smart ways to reclaim and reinvent spaces for evolving lifestyles, sharing design insights, planning principles, and delightful details from the project.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introducing the House of Flora Project
- The client, an empty nester, wanted to transform her home to fit her current life stage, reclaiming and refreshing once kid-oriented spaces.
- The project focused on the upper level, particularly the primary suite and an office—areas with lingering “early 2000s” design challenges.
“As you transition from one phase of life to another, your space changes, the function of it changes. And she was really ready to move on and kind of reclaim this space for herself.”
— Sue (04:40)
2. Transforming the Standard Bedroom into a Dream Office
- Original State: A basic bedroom with a single window and a typical closet.
- Design Move: Eliminated the closet to maximize the room’s vantage point and storage by installing custom cabinetry, including:
- A recessed, plum-colored built-in with antique mirrors, brass hardware, and sliding doors to conceal/expose a TV.
- Open shelving to showcase the client’s eclectic collections.
- A floating desk aligned with the window for inspiring views.
- Space for a sofa, creating a multifunctional, personalized retreat.
"If you get rid of that irregular architecture and give yourself the most beautiful vantage point...you can come up with what looks like a recessed built in."
— Jess (05:42)
- Sensibility: Sue highlights that making a room fully your own, including using expressive colors and finishes, is a rare gift in a shared home.
“It’s just fully, fully her… It feels very custom.”
— Jess (08:31, 09:24)
3. Primary Suite Overhaul: Smarter Space, More Light, Modern Flow
- Before: Cramped, dated bathroom with 45-degree “clipped corners”, dark finishes, odd cabinetry layout, and a small, underwhelming shower and closet.
- Design Solution:
- Combined the underused adjacent bedroom with the primary suite to create a large, functional space.
- Extended the primary closet and added a generous new bathroom, featuring direct, unobstructed access to natural light and panoramic views.
“Taking over, especially an unused bedroom, if you do it right, you’re not going to lose value.”
— Corey (12:54)
-
Layout Improvements:
- Vanities moved in front of windows for maximum light and vistas.
- Free-standing soaking tub and new “corner chair” for luxury & relaxation.
- A drop-down vanity for seated grooming, beloved by the client and her granddaughter.
-
Design Therapy: They note the emotional value and “new chapter” energy of transforming empty bedrooms—a particular help for those facing empty nest syndrome.
“There really is something therapeutic about moving into a new chapter of your home as you do this with your life.”
— Jess (14:18)
4. Custom Details & Designer Touches
- Floor Pattern:
- Large format marble tiles in a custom “zipper” pattern; straight cuts make the process affordable but striking.
- Rule: Use large-scale patterns in large rooms, small patterns in small spaces (e.g., penny tile in water closets/showers only).
“This is a custom pattern…simple cuts to be able to make a custom pattern. But the payoff is so huge.”
— Jess (19:44)
- Adding Softness:
- Inclusion of a lounge chair and etagere in the bathroom, inspired by AD100 designer Ross Cassidy, to blend softness and comfort with practical luxury.
“It’s just so unexpected to have something soft where everything else is so hard and waterproof. It almost feels like you’re breaking the rules.”
— Jess (18:38)
5. Honorable Mentions: Guest Bath & Staircase
- Guest Bath:
- Features playful, retro-inspired wallpaper and bold mosaic floor pattern, unafraid of color and visual punch.
- Shower has creative stripe tile pattern, found by aligning lines with architectural elements or visual preference.
- House name “House of Flora” inspired by the floral wallpaper.
“She’s not afraid of using pattern, which is really, really, I think, very timely right now.”
— Sue (23:58)
- Staircase Update:
- Replaced tired antelope runner with a faux bois, green needlepoint runner.
- Runner now follows the staircase’s widening curve, enhancing its grandness.
- A charming “bedknobs and broomstick” brass detail on the new railing.
“When you do have the stair runner follow the arculation of the stairs…it makes the staircase feel so grand.”
— Jess (27:50)
6. Big Picture Remodel Takeaways
- Rethink unused or underutilized spaces based on current needs—don’t be afraid to take over bedrooms for closets, offices, or expanded suites.
- Personalization is a kind of self-care; give yourself a space that truly feels like you, especially for empty nesters.
- Mix large and small scale patterns and textures thoughtfully; custom details don’t have to mean expensive materials, just creative layout.
“There’s some square footage to be borrowed somewhere in that home and whatever phase you’re in, you know, to make life more lovely…”
— Sue (28:43)
- Set the stage for “the next chapter”—a home’s evolution is a chance to celebrate the current moment, not mourn what’s past.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the joy of a dedicated office:
“Honestly, this room has the best view of the whole valley. And so I’m so glad that she was able to claim it as her own.”
— Sue (08:23) -
About the ‘therapy’ of remodeling for empty nesters:
“The project of becoming something different, I think would be really therapeutic.”
— Jess (14:18) -
Chair in the bathroom inspiration:
“Ever since [Ross Cassidy] said that, I was like, oh gosh, even if it’s only a dining size chair… just getting something soft in there I really like. I want to experiment with that.”
— Jess (18:38) -
On living in the “now”:
“It’s celebrating the point in life that they’re at, you know, rather than living in the past…”
— Corey (26:47)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- House of Flora Project Introduction: 04:29
- Designing the Custom Office: 05:42 – 09:26
- Primary Suite & Bath Overhaul: 09:43 – 15:24
- Custom Floor Pattern & Bathroom Details: 17:10 – 21:59
- Guest Bath Redesign: 23:58 – 25:40
- Shower Tile Detailing Insights: 25:11 – 26:07
- Staircase Runner Transformation: 27:07 – 28:30
- Remodel Takeaways / Final Thoughts: 28:43 – end
In Summary
The House of Flora remodel masterclass is packed with approachable yet high-impact ideas for empty-nester home refreshes: re-claiming rooms, customizing storage, embracing expressive color and pattern, and adding luxurious comfort and personality throughout. The hosts champion the value of designing for your current lifestyle—remodeling not just for aesthetics, but for a joyful, meaningful next chapter in your home.
For more inspiration and visuals:
Explore the House of Flora project on Alice Lane’s portfolio and follow them on Instagram at @alicelanehome and @alicelaneinteriordesign.